Often overlooked by tourists, and therefore much quieter than the busy South of the country, the Green Coast is a lush natural region in Northern Spain, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Portugal to France.
Blessed with a warm climate, the area is dotted with scenic river valleys and gorges, misty hills and an unspoilt coastline with pristine beaches. The small country roads, interesting architecture, historic towns and villages and traditional cuisine give it an idyllic, rural feel.
For this 10-day holiday we stay in the small seaside resort of Santoña, in a super modern hotel right on the beach, complete with a sun terrace to relax on of an evening.
Our thoughtfully-planned trips out include a guided drive through the stunning Picos de Europa National Park (keep an eye out for bears), time to explore the elegant city of Santander and visits to the picturesque historic towns of Comillas and Santillana del Mar.
You’ll be able to sample wine and cheese made in the Rioja area, see one of Antoni Gaudi’s most interesting creations, and stroll along beautiful beaches and promenades.
It’s a Spanish holiday you’re sure to remember for all the right reasons…
Your 10-day itinerary:
Day 1: Join your coach for the journey to Plymouth, where we check in to our ferry for an overnight crossing to Santander in Spain. After dinner you’ll have a comfortable cabin to spend the night in.
Day 2: Enjoy breakfast on board – we’ll arrive in Santander mid-afternoon. After disembarking we enjoy a scenic drive up the coast to our hotel in Santoña, the Juan de la Cosa Hotel. Once you’ve checked in, the rest of the day is yours to relax.
Day 3: Today we take you on your first included day trip – to the stunningly beautiful Picos de Europa National Park, in the gorgeous Northern Spain mountain range, complete with official guide so we won’t miss a thing.
Day 4: A free day you can spend as you please – the beach is on your doorstep, or you could venture into town and sample the local wares.
Day 5: Today we visit the medieval fortified town of Laguardia for cheese and wine tasting.
Day 6: After breakfast we head for the lovely seaside resort of Comillas, where highlights include the stunning beach, promenade and a park inspired by the artist Gaudi. In the afternoon we drive to Santillana del Mar, a medieval town with stunning architecture. There’ll be time to browse the small shops before we head back to our hotel.
Day 7: Today we drive to Santander, the capital of the Cantabria region, where our guide will show us the main sights. Highlights may include the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Cathedral, the City Hall, and the Cape Mayor Lighthouse. Our trip includes entrance to the Magdalena Palace.
Day 8: Enjoy a day at leisure. Why not stroll along the beach or relax on the sun terrace?
Day 9: We have a morning of leisure before we take the coach to Santander for our overnight ferry back to the UK, with dinner included.
Day 10: Enjoy breakfast on board and relax on the ship – we arrive in Portsmouth early in the afternoon and rejoin our coach for the journey home.
Juan De La Cosa Hotel ****
Our hotel for this holiday is the 4-star Juan de la Cosa Hotel, where we stay for 7 nights.
Enjoying an enviable beachfront location, this comfortable hotel has facilities for you to enjoy on your free days, including an indoor pool and sauna.
The complex has a bar, café and restaurant, and free WiFi is available in all areas.
The hotel’s comfortable rooms come with an en-suite bathroom with free toiletries, air conditioning and heating, flat-screen TV with Satellite channels, radio, telephone, hairdryer and safety deposit box. Seaview rooms are subject to availability and supplement. There is a lift, and the hotel is just a short taxi or bus ride from the main town in case you fancy exploring.
Resort of Santoña
On the coast east from Santander, Santoña is surrounded by a Natural Park of marshlands, but it is the sea which has shaped its history. The town is famous for producing delicious anchovies in olive oil, and its military fortifications date back hundreds of years.
The town centre has plenty of shops to browse for souvenirs, plus small bars selling tapas made with fish caught by the town's fishing fleet.
Included Excursions:
The picturesque towns of Comillas and Santillana del Mar
The historic town of Comillas has some of the most important Art Nouveau buildings around. You can wander the historic cobblestoned streets, browse the interesting shops or just sit in the pleasant square and watch the locals come and go.
Santillana del Mar is one of the most beautiful towns in Spain, Santillana del Mar will keep you enthralled and your camera busy.
Picos De Europa National Park
One of the few truly unspoiled areas of the country. Our full-day guided tour will show you some of the best scenery in Spain, including one of the most breathtaking mountain ranges on the Iberian Peninsula.
There is an abundance of wildlife living in the area – look out for eagles, bears, wolves and shaggy wild ponies…
While here we’ll also enjoy a ride aboard the Fuente De cable car and you’ll be able to see the fantastic scenery of the surrounding area – don’t forget your camera!
Afterwards we head off to a local pomace liquor distillery for a tour and tasting.
Wine and cheese in La Rioja
We head to Laguardia, the quintessential Riojan hamlet. This beautifully-kept medieval fortified town has a magical atmosphere, with honey-coloured aromatic streets. Here we visit two wine cellars to sample the region’s best wine and cheese.
Santander City Tour
Our guide will show us the best sights of the elegant seaside city and our visit includes entrance into the Magdalena Palace, the magnificent summer residence of the Spanish royal family.
Price (based on 2 sharing standard twin or double room) includes: Coach, 2 overnight ferries D/B/B, 7 nights D/B/B basis plus excursions as shown.
Hotel Room upgrades; (subject to supplement & availability)
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Seaview
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Seaview with Balcony
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Balcony with inland view
Ferry Cabin upgrade; (subject to supplement & availability)
Points To Note:
1) All passengers are required to have travel insurance cover for this holiday.
2) Passport required (less than 10 years old from date of travel and at least 6 months left from return date).
3) Some European destinations impose a modest tourist tax to be paid directly to the hotel by the guest.
4) For information regarding the new border checks and travel authorisation requirements when travelling outside of the UK, please visit https://www.gbtours.com/information-for-travel-in-europe
5) Overnight hotels on the outward and return journeys are often motel-style (they might be a lower star rating than the main holiday hotel) and may not have a lift.
6) Please be aware holidays that include walking & guided tours may often involve uneven ground (cobbled streets, etc) and steps, and therefore are not suitable for persons with mobility issues.
7)Running of itinerary may be subject to change due to availability of attractions.
8)Terms and Conditions apply - see website for details.